Arguably the most famous waterfall in the world, Niagara Falls consists of three separate waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and the adjacent Bridal Veil Falls. It is the second largest waterfall in the world, second only to Victoria Falls in southern Africa. Imagine its power, with over 168,000 cubic meters of water falling over the crest line every minute! A breathtaking sight indeed. Attracting 14 million tourists annually, Niagara Falls straddles the Canada-US border and is shared by the cities of Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario. As glaciers melted and retreated after the last Ice Age, land rose behind it to form ridges such as the Niagara Escarpment. It also formed today's Lake Erie and its surrounding lowlands. The lake overflowed nearly 12,000 years ago, and Niagara Falls was born. Erosion has shifted the falls from its original location seven miles north in Lewiston. During summer, Niagara Falls draws the highest number of visitors. After dark, floodlights illuminate both sides of it until midnight, from the Canadian side. From the American side, you can have a view of American Falls from walkways along Prospect Park or from an observation tower. Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian side contains gardens, and platforms that offer excellent views of both the American and Horseshoe Falls. The underground walkways in the park lead to observation rooms creating an illusion of being within the falling waters. For the highest panoramic view of the falls, you can visit the observation deck of the Skylon Tower. If you look at the opposite direction from the tower, you can get a view of far-away Toronto as well. Since 1846, the Maid of the Mist cruises have carried visitors into the whirlpools beneath the falls. The Spanish Aerocar, a cable car designed by a Spanish Engineer and built in 1916, carries passengers over the whirlpool below the falls on the Canadian side. |
